City of Charleston to Host Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project Information Sessions

Press Release

The city of Charleston, in partnership with Charleston County, the Town of Mount Pleasant and the Preservation Society of Charleston, will host a series of public information sessions throughout July and August to provide an overview of the Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project, a 2-year initiative supporting the documentation and preservation of historic Gullah Geechee Communities.

About the project: The multi-jurisdictional collaboration is being funded by a $75,000 grant from the National Park Service’s Underrepresented Communities Grant program, with matching funds from the city of Charleston and the Preservation Society of Charleston.

The project is designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Connect a cohort of historic Gullah Geechee/African American Communities with the resources and technical assistance necessary to achieve their historic and cultural preservation goals.
2. Document the historical significance of community-identified sites, features and districts through surveys, oral history, archival collections and other methods.
3. Facilitate partnerships with a network of organizations to increase collaboration and sustainability for ongoing preservation efforts beyond the grant period.
4. Submit a successful nomination for the Scanlonville Cemetery to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and potentially other nominations if desired by participating communities.

Project advisors include retired National Park Service Park Ranger Michael Allen and Center for Heirs Property Manager of Strategic Initiatives Esther Adams. Additional supporting partners to-date include: Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Berkeley County, City of North Charleston, Clemson University Historic Preservation Department, Historic Charleston Foundation, Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, Gullah Geechee Group, Inc., Lowcountry Gullah Foundation and Town of James Island.

How to attend: Citizens are invited to attend one of the following in-person or virtual information sessions, each scheduled for 6 to 7:30 pm:

• Thursday, July 20, 2023, Keith School Museum, 1509 Clements Ferry Road, Wando
• Monday, July 24, 2023, Baxter Patrick Library, 1858 S. Grimball Road, James Island
• Thursday, August 3, 2023, Mount Pleasant Waterworks, Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant
• Monday, August 7, 2023, J.E. Clyburn Wiltown Community Center, 5779 Parkers Ferry Road, Adams Run
• Thursday, August 10, 2023, Cynthia G. Hurd Library, 1735 N. Woodmere Drive, West Ashley
• Monday, August 14, 2023, Chicora Cherokee Elementary (Media Center) 3100 Carner Avenue, North Charleston
• Thursday, August 17, 2023, Johns Island County Library, 3531 Maybank Highway, Johns Island
• Monday, August 21, 2023, Virtual Zoom Session, Click Here to Register

For detailed project information, visit: www.charleston-sc.gov/urc.

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